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I know, you don't believe me that spring is just around the corner. But it is! My sign of spring is the annual Cottage Life Show. This years dates is March 28, 29 and 30 at the International Centre in Toronto.
Look for the entrance of our area by the rustic timber framing!
Re/max is a major sponsor. Re/max has its own main isle of listings. You can find your listing there if you list with me before March 27th.Over 30,000 people show up for this event! One smart cottage owner got their cottage on the market today. (1715 Greenwood Lane on Buckhorn Lake $249,900)
Now, our booth is the most important in the show but you will also find over 500 other booths to visit offering tips and products for your cottage life. While you are there, check out the Re/max dock party. I will have free drink tickets, so track me down.
If you ever been to Ennismore Ontario, one thing other then the beauty of the area you will notice shamrocks. Lots of shamrocks. You will see a monster shamrock right at the end of the causeway. You will see them on our signage. The Irish heritage with the main families is huge. Our elementary school and church is named Saint Martins. (St .Martin was St. Patrick's uncle)
Did you know that this festive day called St. Patrick's day is a celebration of the arrival of Christianity to Ireland? March 17th was the date recognised as the death date of St. Patrick. One more quick fact is St. Patrick's Day became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903 and is also a public holiday in Canada! (Newfoundland and Labrador)
So enjoy St. Patrick's day! Remember on March 17th we are all Irish. (Including me who is Scottish!)
Ok, enough already with the minus degree weather. It is
causing our numbers to be in the minus.
(Peterborough
and the Kawarthas, February 2013 compared to February 2014)
Total
# of new listings -2%
Total
# of listings YTD -12%
Total
# of sales in Feb -15%
Total
# of sales YTD -12%
Just crazy numbers. Wait until you see March. I feel like a
sprint runner waiting on the start line for the gun to go off. As soon as we
get some warmth, the market will be ludicrous.
Market specific numbers
Area Feb
2014 Listings Feb 2014 Sales Feb 2013 Listings Feb 2013 Sales
Susan, the kids and I went to the cottage last night. We missed going so we thought we would go. We left around 4:30pm. It was an early night. Every one was tired. Today we got up and played around with the kids. After breakfast I wanted to introduce the kids to the woods. Of coarse Renee is too young so I took Lucas and Faith. They had a blast. Snow was deep so we did not go too far. They did not want to go back, I am glad I did turn around as they were getting tired and I would have had to carry out two kids! I checked the ice thickness of Eels Creek, it was over 3 feet! Put the kids down for a nap and had a well deserved coffee. Refreshed and ready for a busy week ahead.
RESIDENTIAL - Lovely updated bungalow with large yard, with extra space backing
onto green space (parkland) in Lakefield. Some of the recent improvements
include windows, floors, gas furnace, shingles, and siding. Enjoy a living area
with large windows, open concept and great sunlight. 0versized 1.5 car detached
garage. Mature trees on property and neighbourhood. Walk to all village
amenities.
It has been cold. Really cold. It has been a true winter in Canada. With that watch this rant:
So with the bitter cold weather comes a slow real estate market. It will not last all winter but it seemed to hit Selwyn Township really hard. In January 2014 Ennismore/Emily seen 4 sales and 24 new or renewed listings. Smith seen 2 sales and 26 new or renewed listings. Looking at January 2013 numbers Ennismore/Emily had 5 sales and 32 new listings. Smith had 8 sales and 18 new listings.
Please do not read too much into these numbers. It is typical to have these numbers in January. That said February will see much improved numbers.
Cold and snowy. The theme of our winter. This weekend was no different. I went up early Friday and opened up the driveway and walkways with the snowblower. I went back home, loaded the family and took them up. Again, not much accomplished on the property, too busy just relaxing! I had to cut Sunday short as I had to work but it sure helps with the winter blahs to get away for a few days.
Eels Creek looking North
Eels Creek looking South
To cold to play outside so a soccer game broke out
I would like to start off this blog by thanking you, the reader of this blog for your attention. I know that there is content on anything out there on the web so you taking a few minutes reading my blog is appreciated.
I would also like to thank my clients over the years. Your business and friendship is truly appreciated as well!
Now to the update! December 2013 was very interesting for Ennismore/Emily. There was only 3 new listings signed up but 8 sales were recorded! Funny enough in December 2012 the numbers were flipped with 9 new listings and 3 sales. How do you predict what December is going to be like, eh?
Totals for Ennismore/Emily for 2013 was 345 listings and 176 sales. That is a 51% Sales Ratio for 2013 compared to 44% in 2012.
Smith/Lakefield on the other hand had 11 new listings and only 2 sales in the month of December. You have to wonder why such different results in basically the same area. (Same Township "Selwyn") To compare December 2012 had 7 new listings and 7 sales. Totals for 2013 is 310 listings with 155 sales. That is an honest 50% Sales Ratio for 2013 compared to 50 % in 2012.
Taking the complete Peterborough and Kawartha board numbers which covers basically Peterborough County, this area recorded 179 new listings and 106 sales for the month of December 2013. December 2013 is down 18% over December 2012. Over all numbers from sales 2012-2013 was basically the exact same number.Wow!
With all that said the economists were correct that the market will hold its own with very little to no growth. I am ok with this as we are still recovering from the housing fallout in the USA in 2007-2008 and the tough new mortgage rules the Federal government put in place last year.
RESIDENTIAL - ANDIMAR ESTATES, PIGEON LAKESIDE COMMUNITY offering fishing, boating and quality living. This bungalow features 3 bedrooms, bathroom, living room, dining area and galley kitchen on the main floor. The lower level features family room, fourth bedroom, laundry room and tons of storage. Huge country lot 100` x 300`. Walk out from kitchen to large deck. 27` above ground pool. Many major updates completed including all windows (2012), carpet in basement (2013), hardwood floors in living room (2012), pool line (2011) and roof (2006). Located only 15-20 minutes to Peterborough or Lindsay in a family friendly waterfront community with deeded access to Pigeon Lake. Quick possession is possible.
It has seemed like forever since the last time we stayed at the cottage. With going to Florida in November and such a busy month in December we just did not get a chance.
I took the family up on New Years Day. I was a good boy the night before so I did not have a big head January 1! Great way to start off the year. Others I know can not say the same thing!
Renee All Ready to go!
We arrived to a clean cottage with no water. The pump would not pump nothing. The driveway and deck had not been cleared so it took awhile to even access the basement where the pump is which is done through the deck. Susan started to melt snow on the stove for water. I found the issue quickly. The heatline was not working and the pipe from the well to the pump was frozen. That sucked! It was only -29C why would it freeze?? I mucked around with the water system until dark and gave up. No water and nothing I can do. We melted a lot of snow as the kids needed a bath and no matter what we do not miss bath night.
The next morning Lucas and I went outside to clean up the snow in the driveway. I decided to go to Donia's Tim-Br Mart and picked up an ice auger. Back when I was a kid this is how we cottaged in the winter. Water was hauled in by bucket. A heck of a lot quicker then melting snow!
Lucas helping me clean the driveway
This is how I was going to access the creek
I was surprised to see 8 inches of ice
Getting dark and -29c again
This was my reward for a hard days work! Truth to be told, I bought all this for Christmas Eve but we all had the Flu!
Friday it was still really cold, in the -20c's. Lucas came out to play but did not last long. I was eyeing up a tree that I hated that over hung the creek. With so much ice on the creek it was my only opportunity to get rid of it.
Poor Lucas was mad he could not swing!
The Hated Tree
Look to the left and you will see the hated tree
GONE
Better call it a day!
Saturday it finally warmed up. It felt almost HOT at -4C. I referee in Apsley in the morning and when I got back to the cottage the kids and I went out and played. We had a ton of fun. I even dug out the swings!
Lucas and Faith working on their snow angels
Riding down the hill on the sled
Susan could not came out to play as she hurt her knee. But she still makes a mean hot chocolate when we went in
Apsley (North Kawartha) has such a nice rink
Sunday is now here and it is going to snow and maybe freeze rain so we packed up early at noon and booked it for home.
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